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Unemployment released

According to a report by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, LeFlore County has been ranked 70 out of Oklahoma's 77 counties in terms of employment for January 2012. Only six other counties reported a worse unemployment rate that LeFlore County with Latimer County holding the highest rate across the state. Out of an estimated labor force of 19,017 workers, 17,184 were employed, leaving 1,833 LeFlore County citizens without jobs, raising the unemployement rate from 8.7 percent in December to the current 9.6 percent.. The state's highest unemployment rate of 11.3 percent, which was reported by Latimer County was closely followed by 10.6 percent in Hughes County, and Sequoyah County fell third in the state with a 10.4 percent unemployment. The employment report for the Poteau Local Labor Market, which includes Haskell and LeFlore Counties, shows that out of a total labor pool of 24,894 workers, 22,601 were employed while 2,293 were without jobs, an unemployment rate of 9.2 percent. Reporting the lowest unemployment rate was Roger mills County with an unemployment of 2.8 percent. Dewey and Ellis Counties both rated as second lowest unemployment rates in the state with 3 percent and Beaver County rounded out the top three with 3.2 percent. The statewide unemployment rate improved during January 2012 bringing in the new years with a 0.2 percent reduction in unemployed workers dropping to a 6.1 percent. The national unemployment also dropped during January to 8.3 percent.The report states that eight of Oklahoma's 11 statewide job supersectors reported job gains in January, and that these gains counteracted smaller losses reported during the month. The Trade, Transportation and Utilities job supersector reported the largest gains, driving primarily by growth in the Retail Trade sector. The Trade, Transportation and Utilities supersector reported a gain of 3,500 jobs equivalent to a point 1.2 percent increase over the month. Over the year, from January 2011 to January 2012, the Trade, Transportation and Utilities supersector report a 2.9 percent increase in employment.In the same over the year period, eight Oklahoma supersectors reported gains in employment. Most of these gains once again in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities supersector which saw 8.200 added jobs.The only supersectors to record over the year losses in January were the Construction, Information and Other Services sectors. The Construction supersector lost 100 jobs, a hit of 0.1 percent, Information took a loss for 400 jobs and Other Services saw a loss of 1,000 jobs, dropping 1.7 percent.